Seif 2 (Contd.)

Rabeinu Tam says that one should eat Shaalos Seudos before Mincha.  The Medrish says that someone who drinks water Bein Hashmashes is stealing From the dead (who need the water to cool down before returning to Gehenim). The Gra quotes a Rashba that brings a Yerushalmi which tells the story of someone who drank Bein Hashmashes and the Malach Hamaves killed him for it since he was stealing from the dead. Therefore one should eat before Mincha, otherwise he may eat and come to drink during Bein Hashmashes.

The Biur Halacha writes that this  applies after Shkia, even if one did not

finish Shaalos Seudos. So if he starts eating before Shkia, he might

stretch the meal until after Shkia. The Mahril goes so far as to say if Shaalos Seudos was not eaten before the Tzibor Davened Mincha, one cannot eat until after Havadala. The Magen Avraham argues that such a scenario should not stop people from eating Shaalos Seudos.

The Rambam, however, says that we Daven Mincha before eating Shaalos Seudos. The Gra says that this Shita seems to reflect the Gemara in Pesachim Which says that if when someone is eating Shabbos afternoon, it is not necessary to stop in the middle to make Havadala. When drinking wine, one must stop for Havadala, but need not stop to drink some water. We may infer from this that they ate and drank water until Moitzie Shabbos. The Bais Yosef says that it is more logical to Daven before eating, since one cannot eat before Davening.  As regards to the above Medrish, Rav Meshulam says that the real Girsa is not to drink Friday night Bein Hashmashes, and the Medrish is not referring to Shabbos afternoon (the Gra explains that the water is needed

to cool the dead leaving Gehenim).

The Hagahos writes that the only problem is drinking water directly from A river, but not water that was already drawn. There are those who write The only prohibition applies during the twelve months following the death of A parent,  since the judgement of Gehenim is only for twelve months. The Gra explains this since the Medrish writes that he's stealing water only from one's own dead relatives.

The Magen Avraham points out that R' Tam who says that Shaalos Seudos is eaten before Mincha, holds that it is permissible to eat a small meal before Davening.  The Machtzes Hashekel says that according to the Tur who allows a small meal to be eaten before Mincha, it is referring to Mincha Ketana, and thus  Shaalos Seudos should also be eaten before that time. The Mishna Brura says that if there is a need, one may eat Shaalos Seudos before  Mincha, since we Paskin in Simon 232 that one may eat a small meal even after Mincha Ketana.